Penalty Enforcement?

[refjeff]

One way to avoid confusion (and perhaps some argument) when a receiver steps/goes OOB, and then returns in-bounds and participates, is to bag the spot where he went OOB, and flag where he participates after coming back.  Whether you choose to flag for IS (without any "participation") is a judgment call based on advantage/disadvantage.

  9.6.1  and Case Book 9.6.1 Situation A, B, & C.  If a receiver goes OOB voluntarily or accidently it is Illegal Participation as soon as he steps back inbounds, further participation is not required. 

Now, if the receiver goes out, comes back in, realizes what he has done and stops and stands there 6 inches inbounds and does not anticipate in any way I'm probably going to rule "no harm, no foul, play on."  But it's not Illegal Substitution.

[KWH]

One way to avoid confusion (and perhaps some argument) when a receiver steps/goes OOB, and then returns in-bounds and participates, is to bag the spot where he went OOB, and flag where he participates after coming back.  Whether you choose to flag for IS (without any "participation") is a judgment call based on advantage/disadvantage.

I would suggest not throwing the beanbag (equivalent to throwing a Hat in NCAA only) simply because you have now recognized the player went OOB. Going OOB is NOT a foul! Therefore that spot means absolutely nothing other than notifying the coach that you saw him go OOB.
Returning is (by rule) a foul for IP and it could be enforced from where the player returned.
However, we instruct officials NEVER to throw a Hat or a Bean Bag and NOT to throw that flag unless the player actually participates and/or influences the play.

Think it out, If you throw a Bean Bag and he comes back in, however, you choose not to throw a flag, how do you explain the bean bag to a rule savy coach?
If you don't throw a Bean Bag and he comes back in and you choose not to throw, you can easily say "if he stepped on the line coach I missed it!"

[AlUpstateNY]

Think it out, If you throw a Bean Bag and he comes back in, however, you choose not to throw a flag, how do you explain the bean bag to a rule savy coach? [/quote]

Whether YOU choose to flag for IP (without any relevant "participation") is YOUR judgment call based on advantage/disadvantage.  YOUR judgment and decision may, at times call for a brief explanation, which should satisfy even a "rule savvy" coach, although concurrence is not required.

[SBEII]

Sometimes,  the more I read the more confused I become.

So in summary.....if a player enters "During" a punt, and does not participate,  can it be illegal substitution and enforced from the succeeding spot? Or is it illegal participation....even if he doesnt participate?

[CalhounLJ]

In the case of a nonplayer that is correct. if a nonplayer enters the field during a down, but does not participate by influencing the play, it is illegal substitution. If he enters and participates, it is illegal participation. this is different from the A or K player who is already in the game at the snap. if he steps out, he is guilty of illegal participation if/when he steps back in..